This is a head-scratcher! I wonder why this not uncommon noisemaker brought so much?
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Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.
Vintage Dennison Halloween Seals (18) - Witch - Black Cat - Face - Original Box
This is a truly rare box of Dennison seals definitely made sometime between 1929-1931. Prior to looking at this listing, I've not seen this particular design offered for sale. I'd be a bidder but the box is much too rough for my collection.
(Condition really affects value. This rare set only brought $123.83, about half of what I feel a near-mint set would have fetched.)
VINTAGE ANTIQUE HALLOWEEN WITCH NOISEMAKER, OLD ESTATE, NR !
This noisemaker, another item I've not seen before, was definitely made by Merri-Lei of New York in the 1950s. The tells are the glossy paper stock and the incised lines.
(This brought a stronger-than-expected $47.56.)
US Paper Mache Skull Lantern
This odd lantern was originally manufactured without any inserts. The way it is being offered is its original state.
1930's Vintage Halloween Game Whoo's Whoo? Silhouette Game by Gibson
This is only the third time I have ever seen this drawing game for sale! Made by Gibson in the 1930s, it originally came with a pad of paper. They were sold folded, so the crease below the verbiage is how it came from the factory. Condition will certainly factor in to the ending price, but this is an uber-rare item. If you collect Gibson items, this may not surface again for a long time. (I bought mine in the 1990s.)
(This should have brought much more.)
Vintage 1940s Halloween Decoration Collectable Black Cats w/ Pumpkin
The seller states that this diecut has "...no flaws to report." Hmmm...
Witch's Mystery Answer Game
This is one of Beistle's iconic Halloween party games made from 1933-38. Although many were produced and many still exist, the large form factor and the ridged edges conspire to make this game hard-to-find in this super condition. Given who is selling this game, I don't think you could go wrong. Snap it up!
VINTAGE 1920'S (2) GERMAN HALLOWEEN EMBOSSED DIECUTS
Whomever the buyer was got one of the best deals in 2012 scooping these very hard-to-find mini-diecuts up for a song. The listing only lasted 2.5 minutes! I sure wish I was browsing Ebay at that time!
1920'S GERMAN EMBOSSED DIECUTS JACK O'LANTERN & GIRL RARE
This purchase was THE best buy in 2012 to date. I've never seen these two mini-diecuts before, which means these are off-the-scale rare. The seller made a very serious error in listing these with a Buy-It-Now of $79.99. This pair may very well have brought ten times that amount.
Vintage Pumpkin Head Jack O Lantern Garland Nearly 5 FEET JOL Die Cut
This is an exceptionally rare garland, made by Beistle in the early 1920s. I bought the identical example for my personal collection about 8 years ago. This is the first time I've seen it offered for sale since then. The seller indicates this is in near-perfect condition. If you collect rare Beistle paper, snap this right up.
MINT 1930’S BEISTLE DIECUT SUNFLOWER GIRL LITHOGRAPHED TALLY
Wow, I wouldn't have projected this tally card to have ever gone this high. I know this one, as well as its mate (see page 218), is difficult to locate but...Prices for mint golden age Beistle items are stronger now than perhaps ever.
HALLOWEEN VICTORIA CARLSBAD AUSTRIA DEVIL HEAD MATCH HOLDER
This match holder was the most commonly produced item amongst those comprising the full set. (A full set can be seen on page 115.) The larger humidor is less common. The ashtray and the plate had a manufacturing run of merely ten, so they are essentially impossible to now buy. The complete set was made as an advertising gift to the top clients of King Bourbon and Setter Rye. The match holder up for sale is missing its glass eyes.
Children's Hallowe'en Party Decorations Book Beistle Complete Halloween 1920s
These complete 1923 Beistle party sets have been a strong seller for many years on the secondary market, typically bringing between $350-450.
Vintage Beistle Halloween Standups New In Wax Paper Package Old Stock
The seller must be delighted with this puzzling result. Given how common these decorations are, the ending price seems much, much too high.
DENNISON vintage 1920s Halloween Nut Cup OWL CAT PUMPKINS WITCH
This nut cup, one of a set of four that Dennison made in ~1929, is a transitional piece along the way from Dennison's traditional representational imagery to more fantastical imagery that took over briefly in 1930-1931. That comment aside, the nut cups from this set are tough to find in acceptable condition.